Improvement in modes of exploding torpedoes



E.G0MBZ MDDE 0F EXPLODING TORPBDOES.

Patented Nov. 14, 1871 Innwln GOMEZ, or New YORK, N. r.-

IMPROVEMENT IN MODES OF EXPLDING TRPEDQES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,963, dated November14, 1871; antedated November 9, 1871.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, EDWIN GOMEZ, 'of the city and State of New York,have invented and made Ian Improvementy in Exploding Torpedoes, and thefollowing' is declared to be a correct description thereof.

Torpedoes have heretofore been exploded by either a fuse passing fromthe nipple or explder down into'the powder, or else a chamber `tocontain explosive materialhas been employed tol communicate the iire tothe explosive material of the torpedo. The powder or explosive materialsettling down in the-torpedo and leaving a space in the upper part, hasrendered it necessary to resort to some means such as before named forcommunicating fire from the point of ignition =to the powder. In thecase, however, of a powder-chamber the explosion of the powder thereinfrequently injures the upper part of the torpedo so as to allow water topass into the same and prevent the explosion of the main charge.

My invention consists' in an igniting projectile combined with thetorpedo, said projectile being fired by the first explosion into orthrough the main charge, conveying fire to the entire mass of explosivematerial with suddenness, so as to insure the entire ignition of thesame before any water can pass in; thus a perfect explosion is eectedregardless of the depth to which the powder may have settled down or thelength of the Y cartridge.

In the drawing, Figure l' is a vertical section ofthe torpedo. Fig. 2isa sectional plan of the igniting projectile at the line and Fig. 3-isa section 'of a modification in said torpedo.

The powder-chamber a or case containing the explosive material Ais of asuitablesize and shape and may bemade inany usual manner. The iguitingprojectile b is made to contain material that will burn, and saidprojectile is driven longitudinally of the powder-chamber to ignite thepowder or explosive material thereof in its passage through the same. Iintroduce into the projectile b a cavity, c, to contain compressedpowder or other material that will burn with the name necessary for saidignition. This cavity may contain the explosive material by means ofwhich the ball is projected, suchy explosive material also effecting.the ignition of the charge. The projectile b receives its momentumwithin the torpedocase by any suitable means. I have shown in so as notto shake l.the cap, by a hammer or weight;

Fig. 1 said projectile as attached by cords or Wires to the under sideof the cap d ofthe torpedo, so that by the explosion ofthe materialinserted in the chamber c the projectile is driven 'length- Wise of thetorpedo upon the central or other guide f, breaking said cords for wiresand igniting the contents ofthe case c. In Fig. 3 the proiectile isshown as within the .barrel c, and it may be held therein by adhesivematerial or otherwise. out, but so .that the explosion in e will drivethe same lengthwise within the torpedo without breaking the torpedo-caseby the explosion in the barrel c. The result in eithen case is theinstant explosion of the entire charge in the case a., regardless of itslength. The barrel e may be unscrewed for inserting the projectile bfrom the upper end, so 'that the same will be fired the same as inbreech-loading guns. To fire. the powder in c or c a galvanic batteryand wires might be employed, but I prefer a .percussion-cap, i, upon anipple, o. I make the same water-tight, but allow of the motionnecessary in exploding the cap by means of a thin rubber tube orelasticcement around the nipple, between thesame and the interior of thesides of th'e cap, but not at the end of said nipple. Thereby'saidnipple is made Water-tight, but is free to be moved, inl exploding Amovable screw-cap, l, may bev employed over the percussion-cap forprotection in transportation, and a pin, m,- can be inserted throughthesame to receive the blow and communicate the same to the cap. rllheflash of the cap will be conveyed to the contents of the cylinder orbarrel e to better advantage through a quick-lirin g fuse, r, that isattached to the inner end of the nipple or tube o, said nipple being ofa tapering formto enter,

the end ofl uhesaid quick-liring fuse, and the parts being connected bya lwinding of string around the exterior of such fuse. The tapering endof the nipple or tube may be roughened or have a thread cut to preventthe fuse' slipping. The firing-pin m may be kept away from thepercussion-cap by a spring to lessen strike the cap when released afterbeaway from thel nipple by a cord or cause it to ing 'pulled rope. v

The explosive materials employed may be of any desire'd character, andthe movement of the projectile in contact with .detonating materlal, or

risk in transportation, or it may be provided with a springto materialthat will ignite by friction, may be used for communicating re' to themain charge of the torpedo, and with some mate als the passage of theball alone through the same will be sucient for their ignition. Theprojectile may contain inflammable or detonating material to be ignitedby friction or concussion in passing into the main charge of thetorpedo.

I claim as my invention- 1. Atorpedo, combined with aball, to be drivenlengthwise of the case by the explosion of powder in achamber, saidb'allmakiiig an opening through the powder for the fire which followsthe same, so

that the'charge will be ign'ted, as set forth.

2. The nipple o or tube made with a tapering end to enter thefolds' ofthe fuse r,.and to which it is united, as specified.

Signed this 19th day of January A. D. 1871.

- EDWi GOMEZ.

, Witnesses:

HAROLD SEBBELL,

Gmo. T. PmoxNEY. (124)

